Read The text of my Pub School Contract It's Evil!

[Poor Knight]

____________ is required to use extracurricular time to design lesson plans for culture and
holiday teaching activities. And make protfoilos for Party A for important teaching
activities.
For culture and holiday lesson plans, ____________ shall have thorough discussions with
English teachers of Party A before the carrying out the lesson plan.
_____ agrees to edit and proofreading the English version of Party A’s publications.

In addition, ________agrees to work
overtime and /or on holidays on the request from Party A for the special events such
as Anniversary Celebration, Sports Day, Parents Day, Recruitment, and so on.
Attend Evening afterschool week day meetings.

_____________shall enjoy the National holidays and School holidays, in
accordance with the School’s calendar.

"_______________ shall agree to be available for extracurricular activities
requested by the school. If the activity is held on a weekend, the Teacher
can take equivalent hours as a deferred holiday on weekdays, when _____________ does not have classes and after approval of the School."




The above exerpts are from a contract I have and may or not sign and mail to my future employer. It seems very very cut throat to me.

It also mentions a 3 month probation period when they can just boot me. It also has a clause for taking money from my pay if I am late or take a sick day.

The pay is 60,000 plus 5,000 housing, plus 3,000 bonus for never being late or absent. The contract is vague on vacation only stating I get 10 days in the winter for the new year and:


______________ shall enjoy the National holidays and School holidays, in
accordance with the School’s calendar.



Overall it cause me to think the school is rather voracious and amoral or perhaps very jaded and cynical after having some hack slacker Western teachers. I do not understand why the pay and contract is so bad when I am a western country certified and long experienced teacher. Perhaps I should just take the job and do my best working weekends and attending mandatory weeknight meetings? What is the tax on the 68,000 pay check? I suppose an apartment can be had for about 10,000-15,000?

What are your opinions?

[Nuwanor]

Taxes in Taiwan are looooooooow, don't worry about them. Here's a good starting point: http://www.tealit.com/article_categories.php?section=arcs&article=taiwan-taxes-teaching-white-collar-workers

NTD60,000/month is decent pay here, even more so if the school puts in additional money for your accommodation (which can be found for 10-15000 indeed).

The contract seems pretty shitty though. They'll have you by the balls! Then again, I don't teach Engrish, and I haven't signed any similar contract. But wait a couple of hours, and you'll get some more "experienced" advice.

[Hamletintaiwan]

You don't have to sign it.
A contract is the product of some negotiation.
It's an agreement between two parties. Or three? Are you working with/for an agent?

Asked them to change or narrow down the points you don't like.
For example.

____________ is required to use extracurricular time to design lesson plans for culture and
holiday teaching activities. And make protfoilos for Party A for important teaching
activities.

How many hours/or activities per semester? If more, what's the reimbursement?

_____ agrees to edit and proofreading the English version of Party A’s publications.

How many pages per semester? If more what's the pay?

In addition, ________agrees to work
overtime and /or on holidays on the request from Party A for the special events such
as Anniversary Celebration, Sports Day, Parents Day, Recruitment, and so on.

How many Parents days? How many special events per semester?

I never hesitated to ask for changing such things in my contracts and always succeeded.

[StuartCa]

It also mentions a 3 month probation period when they can just boot me. It also has a clause for taking money from my pay if I am late or take a sick day.

What are your opinions?

I don't teach but the3 moth probation bit is perfectly normal in every company both here and the UK. The sick pay and lateness section is standard operating procedure for Taiwan. It sucks, but thems the rules.

[trubadour]

The poster who said negotiate is on the money. It's not that bad a contract (as in not that unusual) but you could perhaps ask for the alterations to specify how much you will be paid for editing and proofreading.

But I think the pay is way too low especially for a certified and experienced teacher.

[steelersman]

It appears that you have a contract from ESL Dewey!

[timmyjames]

First, don't ever expect to see that 3000/month attendance bonus. They will find a way to not give that to you.


As far as the rest, I would get a firm # (and a yes or no) about any type of pay for the work "requested" after hours. 60k/month for an 8 hour school day consisting of 2-4 hours teachings, and 4-8 hours of office work + after hours work would really burn you out for very standard pay (and substandard if there isn't extra).


Also, about the "deferred holidays." This likely means you could potentially take off a half-day, or leave a few hours early. Don't expect a full day off, since you will most likely have to teach at least once a day, and they specifically mention you can only use them on days that you don't have to teach.

Also, is there a Chinese New Year's bonus?


Because if there isn't, what they have done is taken that and divided into 12 months for your housing. (5k * 12 = 60k or one month's salary)

[Poor Knight]

there is no 'new year' bonus. the salary of 60k + 5k housing + 3k bonus for faultless attendance tops it at 68,000 - I was thinking to make a bit more...

I emailed back and said I wanted overtime Cash money added to my salary if I did any meeting on a weeknight or a weekend school function - recruiter gave no reply- he must be unhappy as the recruitment bonus looks in jeopardy with my selfish contract quibbling.
I generally never take sick days or am late - I did not when I taught in the West. So, I do not see how they are going to take the 3,000 from me if I am always early and well prepared with my lesson and unit plans in my giant nerd teacher planner.

The clauses in the contract seem predatory and disproportionally favored towards their whims. As you said it seems they can demand I attend a weekend school function and then replace that time with a half day at some date made by their determination after I go and whinge to them that I worked Saturday and now beg for some time off later. I would be ok with it if it stated these off day replacements would always be an entire Monday or coming Friday off but I doubt that would be the rule. Obviously a Taiwan teacher is working well past 5 pm and will never fail to attend most any school function and from the schools point of view ensuring their Western teacher do the same is in the interest of the students. But, I would like to get some overtime for that.

I don't know- maybe I am being a greedy brat. It might be an ideal work environment with both teachers and students trying hard and striving to be pleasant and helpful to me. But, it really would start to be a grind if I had to work often on the weekend and then had to go to weekday evening teacher meetings- especially if the social climate was lacking in appeal.

[bigduke6]

At the end of the day the reality is simple. The school or recruiter does not give a shit about you and your needs.
By asking questions you are rocking the boat.
They will simply tell you to sign the contract or f off. They will tell you to f off in a nice way if that is any consolation.

[timmyjames]

there is no 'new year' bonus. the salary of 60k + 5k housing + 3k bonus for faultless attendance tops it at 68,000 - I was thinking to make a bit more...

I emailed back and said I wanted overtime Cash money added to my salary if I did any meeting on a weeknight or a weekend school function - recruiter gave no reply- he must be unhappy as the recruitment bonus looks in jeopardy with my selfish contract quibbling.
I generally never take sick days or am late - I did not when I taught in the West. So, I do not see how they are going to take the 3,000 from me if I am always early and well prepared with my lesson and unit plans in my giant nerd teacher planner.

The clauses in the contract seem predatory and disproportionally favored towards their whims. As you said it seems they can demand I attend a weekend school function and then replace that time with a half day at some date made by their determination after I go and whinge to them that I worked Saturday and now beg for some time off later. I would be ok with it if it stated these off day replacements would always be an entire Monday or coming Friday off but I doubt that would be the rule. Obviously a Taiwan teacher is working well past 5 pm and will never fail to attend most any school function and from the schools point of view ensuring their Western teacher do the same is in the interest of the students. But, I would like to get some overtime for that.

I don't know- maybe I am being a greedy brat. It might be an ideal work environment with both teachers and students trying hard and striving to be pleasant and helpful to me. But, it really would start to be a grind if I had to work often on the weekend and then had to go to weekday evening teacher meetings- especially if the social climate was lacking in appeal.

Any month in which you miss a day of work will be considered missing a day of work. Yes, you and I both know that is ridiculous, but it's Taiwan. Typhoon day? No perfect attendance. Take the bus to work? If you do, you should know they are not reliable time-wise. Five minutes late due to traffic? Oh, a scooter accident jamming up the roads? Bye-bye perfect attendance. I'm not sure about your time and experience in Taiwan, so I don't mean to sound like I am talking down, but this is the sad truth about how a lot of things work here.


As far as the "Taiwan teachers working well past five thing," as someone who has to regularly visit public schools, I can tell you for a fact that idea is false. While some may work late, there are plenty who leave early.


Now, in reality, the school is probably decent. If it is a public school, it's probably very relaxed, and it would be a decent job. What is not decent is the recruitment agency pimping you out. I know they have their role and place, but they work for the schools, and not for you, so anything they get their hands on is not going to be in your favor.

Personally, and this is me, so it's not advice, for that salary (which is very standard), I would negotiate to get that contract a little more favorable. If you overstep yourself, it isn't like you let an amazing thing pass you by. But again, that's me.

Whatever you do, good luck.